Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-29
horse at its full speed upon his errand.

While Stella and her stepmother were
listening, in an agony of fear, to the firing
at the gate, the poor girl was terror
stricken at the appearance of the warrior
described so briefly in the previous chap
ter. He gave her no time TO fly, or to ask
a question; but bounding to her side
lifted her, like feather, with his left
arm, and turned to the door, which he
reached at a bound.
She uttered piercing scream, but in G.
moment he bound her scarf across her
mouth and then bore her, with rapid
strides, to spot by the wall, beneath 8
tree, and, by branch of this, he aided
himself to the wall and over it.
Upon the other side was 8 snow white
horse, which she too well knew; and, for
the first time she felt that she was in La
gona's hands. She old not try to scream
or struggle any more; for hope that, at
the worst, he would not hsrm her, came
in an instant to her heart.
Still claspiDg her IN his powerful arm,
he leaped upon the swift horse, and rode
away at full speed. In 4 short time he
removed the scarf from over her mouth
and gave her more freedom to breathe.
''Lagona, Lagona, where do you carry
me? Why do you tear me from myfather's
hOuse?" she moaned.
"Ah! the White Flower knows me-" he
muttered. Then he added: "No harm
shall come to the White Flower, but she
must be still. Worse enemies than La
gOna are near"
And, a moment after, she heard the
tramp of many horses joining them, and
heard harsh vOice-whiCh she thought
| had fallen on her ear befOre-saV:
]
girl"
| Then she trembled, for she knew that
| Ada MCAlpin, who had already sought her
life, was concerned in this transaction.
And she closed her eyes, for she heard
many rough voices around her, and she
dreaded to look upon the speakers; and,
strange as it was, she felt a trust in the
brave heart which she could feel beating
against her form, and in the strong arm
which held her, and only feared those who
were around her.
The party rode on at full speed for g
distance, and then held halted in forest
for consultation.
"When the day comes, aud our track
can be seen, the pale-faced chief will
put the rangers on our TRAIL" said La-
gOna.
"What had we best do?" asked Mailer
son. "Them rangers are not to be trif1ed
with; they're born devils in fight"
awe ought to scatter into many parties
and go different WAYS. Then they must
scatter, too, and will not know where we
meet" said Lag0na.
"The words of the chief are wise"
said Ada. ''Let his advice be followed. |
With only one man l will go with him;
the rest can scatter so as to meet at such
point SIS he deems best"
"LagOna ms heard his sisters words, |
hut he wants no one to go with him. He |
is most safe alone" said the chief, |
quietly but firmly.
81 will not take a man with me, but /
will go alone with you," said Ada.
ono; our queen must not go Alone" |
said Malerson.
"She goes as she pleases, and when she
pleases, sir" said Ada, sternly. eff she /
is your queen, as you say, she requires no |
dlCtation; il she is not, she will leave you |
and bear none"
Malerson saw that he had gone too far,
and biting his lip remained silent.
"My sister can ride with memo |
Others" said Lagona. "Four DAYS from
now, strike the forks of the Rio PeCO;
follow the right fork to its sources in the
mountains, and you will all find LagOna
there, with warriors enough to defend |
you from thousand paIe-faces, if they
follow you so far"
He said no more, but rode on with |
Ada; while, under the direction OF Mailer
son, the rest began to diverge.
CHAPTER XxXIII.
Although hurried by his own ambitious
and noble nature, as well as by the warm
est entreaties of Paul MalersOn, it was
afternoon of the next day before Major
Mccullough reached La BOlss de Flores
with his Rangers. Partaking hastily of
refreshments which Mr.. DclOrme had
provided, and filing their haversacks
with cooked supply of food to last
three or four DAYS, they mounted fresh
horses and dashed eway UPON the main
trail of the Tobbers-whiCh was easily
found and very distinct. After little
more than an hours hard riding, they
came to the forest whence 4 "a Alpin had
first ridden to met Lsgona.
Into this, upon the broad track Of many
horses, they rode, and soon c me to where
the band who called themselves the "Free
Rangers" had been encamp"d.
"About thirty of them, and all white
an Indian sign about the
camp" said Major McCullo Oh, after he
had ridden around and car fully looked
at every mark which they rs made. "It
must have been one o. them disguised as
an Indian, who carried the 19iy off while
the rest were at the gate; that is, unless
Lsgona did it himself. I'll swear that no
Indian has csmped here-there isn't a
track in the sand or ashes, nor
any other sign"
''Lagona would not bsv4 done it!'
said both Mr. Delorme and 'sul.
"She is in the power of " lie wretches
who will be less merciful t@tn the saw
age!" groaned the. latter.
"Then we've no time to Lose" said the
ranger. at j. so long since
Eve seen blood run that I'va almost for
gotten it's color"
But now their first trouble began.
Upon leaving the camp thu found that
ne whole band had scat led of into
wos and threes, taking diff 'ent courses,
liverging in every direct n, the long
caps of their horses shOWsg that they
we're both swift and fresh.
"The rascals were here q least three
,r four days resting and &c ing ready for !
heir work." muttered Mccullough. |
'Thev wouldn't have lain ERE that long {
Undiscovered IL any VI Nv Lou OSSA
couting round in this zion. There s
must have been an old haul with 'em to
make 'em scatter so, to fol their pur- I
uers. That's Indian, out and out!" 6
"What shall we do, how find which T
Darty have carried poor Stella aWay?" 6
sked Paul.
owe must divide and follow each trail. t
they've probably agreed on some meet s
ng place; and by following up their 7
rails, we'H overhaul them in time. But, /
u NV nnininn. This IS oning 10 be long | +